Cotton picker



Dec. 9

M. A. BALL COTTON PICKER.

Filed April l5, 1920 @nf/@awa rfa/gm ji. Bal

Dec. 9

M. A. BALL COTTON PICKER Filed IApril 15, 1920 f 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented il, 129214,

fj i n N :w We: a u ym e,

liW .trl

orties.

lifORGr-'LN Il. BALL, 0F LGS' C L'iLl'ORNli, ASfG-NOR OF ONE-FIFTH T0 A.. S. DIXON, UF LOS ANGELES, CAEFORNEA..

CGTTGN Application filed April 15, 19251.

picke a cotton l ng cotton in a cotton hell tor reine-ving or rear ing the cotton libers therefrom. rihe invention has for an obthe provision of a device of this char.- acter which may he carried in the hand and which is compact and will perform the funcn tions required of it inv an efficient manner.

ln practicing the invention, l provide a casing having an opening at the front and rear ends thereof, and within which casing there is rotatably mounted traveling belts provided with toothed members on the outer iiieriphery thereof and which belts co-act with one another on certain of their surfaces. The belts are likewise eX- posed through the front opening of the casing so that the toothed members on said belts will engage the cotton in a cotton looll tearing same from the cotton holl and drawing the cotton between the surfaces of the belts and from thence through the opening in the rear of the casing into a receiving means.

The intention further consists in the particular combination, inter-relation, construcw tion, association and relative arrangement of the several parte, elements and features of the cotton picker as illustrated in the drawing described in the speciiication and finally pointed out in claims.

@ther objects and advantages will appear during the course of the following description.

in the drawing:

ifigfjure 1 is a vertical. side elevation of a cotton picker, certain parts being broken away to show the interior construction of same;

Figure a fragmentary top plan view of the cotton picker shown in Figure 1, and taken on the line UL-(c2, Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view PECKER.

Serial No, 373,996.

of the cotton picker shown in Figure 2, and taken on the line ac3-w3, Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows;

Figure e is a fragmentary end elevation of the cotton picker, and looking in. the direction of the arrow m4 shown in Figure 2;

and,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of the cotton picker showing an arrangement for controlling the rotation of the interior working parts of said picker.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated hy the same reference characters.

.Referring to the drawings, ri designates a picker casing or housing, B, stripper means contained within said housing, C, mechanism for moving said stripper means, and D means for receiving the picked cotton, all. of which elements are used in practicing one embodiment of my invention.

The casing A is so constructed that the parts contained therein. mayv he readily ac cessihle for repairs, etc. The casing A includes a member 1 which is U-shaped, and which member 1 has ainrularly disposed extremities or luge 2 along the open side thereof. The lugs 2 are threaded as at 3. A cap, cover or plate Ll; tits over an open end of the U-shaped portion 1 of the casing A. rThe cap t is likewise provided with ears 5 having perforations 6 therein. rlhe niemher is herd to the member 1 by means of screws 7 passing through the perforations 5 of the men'il 4 and screwing into the threaded portion of the li 2.

rihe particular' forni of picker shown in Figures l to d inclusive, has a handle a attached to the casing A, which handle a; includes a gripping portion 8 joined to pedosw tais 9 and 10 which in turn are joined to the casing A as at 11 and 12. The handle ci is a medium through which the operator of the picker holds the picker when in use.

rlhe casing A is open at its front ei:- tremitj,7 13, and at its rear extremity 14;, and the member 1 at the fronteXtremity has portions thereof as 15 and 16 converging toward each other. The rear extremity of the casing A as at 1'? has a. curved portion 18 and a straight portion 19, which straight portion 1S) is for acconnnodating a ring 2O which is provided with angularly disposed ears 21 cooperating with one another and held in close relation to one another by a screw 22 passing through threaded pertorations in said ears. When thc means D, which may be a sack or a flexible tube or other medium, is attached to the portion 19 of the casing A, the band 2O is passed around such means D and then clamped as just described, so that the means l) may be held in a close relation to the casing A and prevented from being detached therefrom.

Within the casing A are rotatably mounted drums l), c, al and e. rllhe drums t and c are placed near the opening of the casing A and at the front extremity thereof, While the drums c and l are placed near the rear extren'iity ot the casing A. The drums b and c are rotatably journaled to the casing A by means of shafts 23 and 24. rlghe shaft 28, tixedly attached to the drum o, is contained in journals and 26 locatedin the members 1 and 4 respectively. rlhe drum c is likewise iXedly attached to the shalt 24, which shaft is contained Within journal 2T in the member 4 and journal 28 in the mem ber 1.

The mechanism for n'ioving the stripper means C ordinarily includes a flexible shaft 29 provided with a bifurcated part 30 cooperating with a corresponding angularly disposed part 31. which. latter part 31 is connected to the member 1 and which shaft 29 communicates rotation to the shaft 24. The drums and d are provided at one end with flanged portions 32 and 33 respectively, and which iianged portions normally engage each other so as to communica-te rotation from the driving drum c to the driven drum ci'.

Flach of the members 1 and 4 of the casing il is provided with arcuated slots 34. The drinn d is provided With a shaft passing through said drum and linedly attached thereto, and which shaft 35 passes through the slots 34. Arms 36 and 3'? are pivotal'ly connected at one end, by means ot pins 3S and 39, to the casing A. The opposite ends of the arms 36 and 37 are provided with journaled bushings 40 and 41 and Within Which journaled portions as at 42 and are passed the opposite ends ot the shalt 35. The arms 36 and 37 likewise are provided with depending ears 44 having' pertorations 45 passing therethrough, and 'to said ears 44 are detachably joined springs 46 Which normally hold the flanged portions 82 and ot the drums C and Z in relation to each other so that they normally co-act. The drum c is similarly arranged in details to the drum (Z, that is to say, a shaft 47 passing through .said drum o is held in position to the casing A on the exterior portions thereof by means ot an arm 4S provided at one end as at 49 With an eye portion 50 and through which eye portion there is passed a pin 51 which in turn. joins the casing A on the part designated 4. The opposite end of the arm 4S shown at 52 is provided with a jonrnaled bushing 53 and in this jonrnaled bushing there is passed an end ot' the sha'lt 4T. The shaft 47 moves Within an arcuated slot 54 containedin the member 4 and this arcnution depends upon the length of the arm There is likewise provided on the opposi side an arm 48 which, in all particulars corresponds with the arni 48 just described. There is also Within the member 1 a slot corresponding to the slot 54, so that the shaft 4i' is evenly held on complementary sides of the easing A. The arm 4e is provided with an ear depend-ing from a portion thereo't as at Titi, and which ear is parte rated as at Resilient means such as a spring 58 is attached at one end ol' the cusing A. as at 59, and has its other end passing through the perl'oration 57, thus at all times causing' the drum c to be held in close proximity, but not necessarily touching, its complementary drum 1').

The stripper means B includes endless belts GOv and (l1, which endless belts are each trained around two oil? the. drums that the course ot' euch extends substantially' parallel with the course oi' the other. As shown iu AFigure 1 the belt GO passes around the drums 71 and c, while the belt (61 passes around the'druins c and (l. ,Each oit the belts has on the periphery thereolf toothed nien'ihers (l2, laterally arranged thereon.

Referring to Figure 2 it will he observed that the toothed members G2 do not extend completely across the belt, that is, from edge to edge oi the belt, or rather, that one end ot each ot the toothed nien'ihers :is at il?) only extent s slightly beyond what Vwould he a` median portion ot said belt; in other words, the dillerent toothed uienihers are alternately staggered, lirst one tooth extending 'l'roni an edge ot the belt and partly across same, and then an adjacent tooth extending lrom the opposite edge oit the helt and partially across saine, and so on. This particular arrai'igement of the toot-lied members on each or"V the belts G() and 61 allows the belts to retain their original flexibility so that they will be both laterally and hingitiulinally flexible, readily adapting themselves to any irregularities such as when cotton is beingV carried by said belts which will tend to raise a. portion ot the belt and lower another poi tion. lt the toothedmembers extended co1npletely across the belt troni edge lo edge naturally a. lateral tlerihility ot the belt would he impossible. lt will also he ohserved that the toothed member (l2 made so that one ot. its iiaces 64 is practically per pendicular with the periphery ot the hel( member to which it is attached, While anlother tace 65 is angnlarly disposed to said elt.

lill

llo

lll

Guard means 66 and 67 are arranged to parallel opposite edges of the belt members and 61 so as to prevent any fibrous material that may be carried within the belt from in any way becoming dislodged from the belt and winding itself around the drum shafts, thus tending to clog up the mechanism. It will be observed that the guards 66 and 67 closely encase the peripheries of each of the drum members Z) and c, and where the guards 66 and 67 surround the drums e and Z a portion of said guards as at 68 is cut away in order to permit the drums e and d to move upwardly within the slots 54 and 34 respectively.

Referring to Figure 1 it will now be seen why the casing has its end members 15 and 16 converging downwardly. When the picker casing is engaging a cotton boll at the opening 13 of the casing the downwardly converging parts 15 and 16 extend far enough so. that upon rotation of' the endless belts the toothed members 62 will engage the cotton in the cotton boll drawing same inwardly and between the adjacent faces 69 and 70 and hence through the casing A. and into the receiving means D. Obviously the particular arrangement of each of the drums e and d permits the belt 61 to move upwardly with relation to the belt 60 and accommodating itself to the varying sizes and quantities of cotton fiber picked. lf the cotton liber or the mass of cotton picked were extremely large the flanged portions 32 and 33 of the drums c and l would move apart and rotation of the belt members 60 and 61 would still continue in relation to each other, for the toothed members 62 would engage alternate tooth members on the belts and tend to keep the belts in the same relation as before. Likewise the particular construction of the toothed members 62 prevents a matting of the cotton fiber.

The modification of the picker shown in Figure 5 includes a handle 71 located on a portion of the picker casing as at 72. The

handle 71 is made to resemble a gun handle.

1n most of the details the picker is similar to the picker shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the chief variance being in the particular mechanism used for driving the drums c and (Z and thence causing the belt members 60 and 61 to travel within the casing A.

1u the construction shown in Figure 5 the drum d is provided with a crown wheel 7 8 located on one end thereof and the drum o :is likewise provided with a crown wheel 74. Each of the. crown wheels 73 and 74 are so located on the drum members that the crown wheels would lie in the same plane. The casing A is provided with journaled bushings 75 and 76 and a shaft 77 is mounted for rotation within said bushings.

The shaft 77 is provided with pinions 78 and 7 8a meshing with the teeth of the crown wheels 73 and 74 of the drun'is d and c respectively.

The handle 71 is recessed as at 79 and within said portion there is disposed a trigger 8O pivotally attached to the inner walls 81 by means of a pin 82. The shaft 77 is extended within the recessed portion 79 of the handle 71. At the lower end of the shaft 77 as at 83 there is provided a cone-shaped member 84 and slightly above said coneshaped member 84 is a collar 85 splined to said shaft 77. l bifurcated arm 86 is lixedly attached to the trigger 8O and has its bifurcated portions 87 loosely encircling the collar 85 so that a movement of the trigger inwardly will tend to raise the member 84. A.Y flexible shaft 88 passes through a portion ofthe handle as at 89 and extends to the recessed portion 79 of the handle 71. The end of the flexible shaft 88 as at 90 is provided with a member 91 which member is provided with a concave surface 92 corresponding to a convex surface 93 of the member 84. A spring 94 is disposed between the casing ift as at 95 and contacts with a portion of the bifurcated arm 86 as at 96 so that the face 93 of the member 84 and the face 92 of the member 91 are kept in close contact `wtih one another. lf the trigger 8O were moved inwardly as just described, the member 84 would tend to be moved upwardly. However, the upward movement of the member 84 will tend to move the faces 93 and 92 from each other; thus when the flexible shaft 88 is rotating the member 91, the drums c and al will be stationary, until such time as the trigger 8() f is released and springs back into place through the action of the spring 94, causing the faces 92 and 93 to again contact with eachother. Thus it will be seen that it is possible to allow the belts 60 and 61 to travel at the pleasure of the operator.

The pinion 78 is of a sufficient length so that the teeth of same will mesh with the crown wheel 73 even when the same is moving up or down.

It is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in practicing the in vention as described, all, however, within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention, l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A cotton picker comprising a casing having an opening at its front and rear extremities, picker means mounted for travel therein and comprising endless belts provided with coacting toothed members mounted on the periphery thereof, each of said toothed members extending from an edge of a belt to a point beyond the longitudinal middle of the belt, said picker means being partly exposed through the opening in the front of the casing so that the toothed members inlay engage. a cotton boll and remov e the cotton therefrom, and mechanism ttor operating said picker means, there being means detachably joined to the casing` at the rear opening thereof for receiving the picked cotton.

2. A cotton pickercomprising a easing having an opening at its front and rear en tremities, rotatable drums journaled to and Within said casing, an endless belt passed over said drums, toothed members transversely mounted on the periphery ot said belt with each toothed member Htendinn troni an edge oit the belt to a noint beyond the longitudinal middle thereof, said toothed members also being alternately staggered.. said endless belt being` exposed for a portion through an opening in the 'iront of the casing so that said toothed members may engage the cotton in a cotton boll and remove the cotton therelrom, and mechanism for rotating one ot said drums, there being means detachably joined to the casiat the rear opening thereof tor receiving the picked cotton.

A cotton picker, comprising` a casing having' an opening at its front and rear extremities, means mounted for travel therein and comprising endless belts provided with prismatio shaped toothed members, triangular in cross section, mounted on the periphery or said endless belts, said endless belts being` arranged in substantially parallel opposition and adapted to be presented to a cotton boll to seize and remove the cotton from the boll.

ll. A cotton picker, comprising` a casingn having; an opening),` at its front and rear extremities, rotatable drums journaled to and within said easing, endless belts arranged in substantially parallel opposition and trained each around two orP the drums so that the course of each extends ub-A stantially parallel With the course of the other, prismatic shaped toothed members, triangular in cross section, transversely mounted on the peripheries or said endless belts, and said endless belts being er;- posed for portion in the front oit the casing so that the toothed members mounted thereon may engage a cotton boll and remove the cotton therefrom, passing` the cotton to the rear oi' the casing, and mech-,n

.nisin tor rotating` said drums.

A cotton picker comprising a casing' having openingy at its 'front and rear extremities, rotatable drums journaled to and Within said casing, endless beltsarranged in substantially parallel opposition and trained each around two oft the drums so that the course ot each extends substantially parallel with the course ot the other, prismatic `shaped toothed members, triangular in cross section, transversely mounted on the peripheries of said end- Lalanne less belts, and said endless belts being; cxposed it'or a portion in the front oi' the casing so that the toothed members mounted thereon may engage a cotton boll and rt more the cotton therefrom, passing the cotton to the rear oli the casino;` and mechanism tor rotating` said druuis; said casing' being; slotted at portions adjacent said drums, and spriiur-actuated means coactinnj with said drums tor maintainiinr worn p rei ation 3. cotton picker, comprising); a easing; hay an opening' in its liront and rear extremities`r rotatable drums journalod to and nl lu said casing, eiulless belts ar rango n opposition and trained each around tvo ol" the drums so that thc cinn'sc ot' each extends substantially parallel with im coin'sc ot the other, toothed members ransverscly mounted on the pcriphcrics olf said endless belts, with each toothed incnn inclin,r :troni an edge ot an endless a point beyond the longitudinal le ot the belts said endless belts bcing` exposed for a portion through the opening in the 'liront ot the casing so that the toothed members mounted thereon may engage cotton in a. cotton boll and remove th cotton therefrom passing the same bet en said endless belts to the rear ot the` t sing, and mechanisn'i for rotating said o Iinnsthere being slots in the casing ad jacent said drums, shafts 'or said drums passed through such slots in the casing', and autoii'iatic adjusting` means joined to opposito ends ol? said shatts, whereby the toothed members on the 'face ot one endless holt are caused to be urged toward the taco ot the opposite endless belt.

T. fr cotton picker, comprising a casing having; an opening at its :front and rear cxtreinities, rotatable drums journaled to and within said casing, an endless belt passed over said drums, prisrnatic shaped toothed members, triangular in cross section, trans yersely mounted on the periphery ot said belt, said endless belt being exposed `tor a portion through the opening in the lront oi the casing' so that the toothed members mounted thereon may engage a cotton boll and remove the cotton therefrom, and mechanisni tor rotatingl ont` ot said drums: there being; guard means loniritudimllly arranged Within said casing' and adjacent cach ff'" c ol said endless l'ielt, and extending bevond the periphery oit such belt.

8. il cotton picker. comprising a casing havin.' an opening` at .its front and rear cxtrennt rotatable drums journaled to and ltltl refered and extending;T from the edge of e belt to a point beyond the longitudinal middle of such belt, whereby the belt may be slightly flexed both transverscljfv and lon- ,gg"iirlinelly thereot', said endless belt being exposed for a portion through the opening` in the front oit the casing, so that the toothed members mounted thereon may engage a cotton boll and remove the cotton therefrom, mechanism for rotating` one oil said drums1 and means oined to the casing` adj acent the rear opening thereof tor receiving` the picked lcotton.

9. A cotton picker, having in combination: a easing, two endless belt members mounted tor travel within said casing, spaced teeth carried on said belt members, said endless belt members being arranged in opposition with the course o1e one belt substantially parallel with the course of the other belt, and means for maintaining the teeth on the opposed :tace of one belt mem bei` in engagement with the opposed face of the other belt member.

lll. cotton picker having in combination.: a casing, two endless belt members mounted for tra-Vel within said Casin, spaced teeth carried on said belt members, said endless belt members being arranged in opposition with the course of one belt member substantially parallel with the eoiilrse o t the, other belt .l'neml'iera and means tor inaii'itaining the teeth on the opposed. laee ot one beltmember in resilient engage ment with the opposed tace of the other belt member; there being` means tor moi/'ing said belt members.

ll. A. cotton picker, comprising a casing open at its ends, first and second endless belts mounted within said casing` with portions thereof adjacent the opening at one end olf the casing for picking` cotton and conveying the cotton so picked through the casingv from end to end thereof, a pair or?. arms pivoted to the side walls et the casing and carrying` a portion of said first endless belt, springl connected to said arms and to the casing' for drawing the rst endless belt toward the second endless belt, a pair of arms pivoted to the side walls of said casing and carrying a second portion of the irst endless belt7 ane springs connected .to said arms and to said casing for drawing a second portion of said first endless belt toward the second endless belt.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

MORGAN A. BALL.

Witnesses MILDRED LEACH, RAYMOND lvns BLAKnsLEn. 

